Miele Guide choices for 2009/2010 in Japan

[Robb S]

The Miele Guide has announced its top five restaurants for Japan:

1. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Tokyo)
2. Restaurant de Joel Robuchon (Tokyo)
3. L'Osier (Tokyo)
4. Roan Kikunoi (Kyoto)
5. The White Fox (Tokyo)

(Robuchon also got the top two restaurants in Hong Kong, and the top pick for all of Asia.)

[Moderators: please do us a favor and leave this in Japan (as you've done with Michelin discussions) rather than moving it to Media.]

[FourSeasons]

Suspect most voters for Meile Guide (after all, it is a Singapore-based publication) are Singaporeans and expatriates living in Singapore and Hong Kong so this is not a niche that is familiar with the dining scene in Japan.

[Uncle Yabai]

What? Wouldn't you expect that out of the top 5 restaurants in Japan, 4 of them should be Western, and two of them belong to the same French chain? I think that makes perfect sense, don't you?

[Uncle Yabai]

Besides, I would much rather take advice from a French tire manufacturer than from a German appliance maker. The fit to the business of cuisine is just better.

[prasantrin]

And don't forget, the best Japanese restaurant in Asia couldn't possibly be in Japan. Of course a HK branch of an American-based "chain" of Japanese restaurants would have better Japanese food than, say, any restaurant in Japan.

I'm curious about White Fox. I'll have to do more research.

[steamer]

No offense to the owner of the White Fox who is a nice guy, and the food is quite good, but among the 5 best in Japan, I don't think anyone in their right mind could claim that.

Sounds like the Miele folks are confused.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

LOL

[Ninisix]

This guide works on the voting, right ? Of how many ? The chowhound minority is more active, I think.

[Uncle Yabai]

Yaaawnnn....